THE RED PEACOCK

THE RED PEACOCK

King Krishnadevrai ruled over the kingdom of VIjaynagar. He had a strange hobby. He was fond of collecting new and unusual things.

Many a time,King Krishnadevrai's courtiers would take undue advantage of his hobby. They would often bring a variety of unusual things for the king and get handsome rewards from him.

One day, one of the courtiers had an idea. He asked a painter to paint a picture of a red peacock. He then gifted the picture to the king and said, "Your Highness, I have got this picture especially for you from Madhya Pradesh. One can find such red peacocks. One can find such red peacocks only there."

The King was astonished to see the picture of the red peacock. He liked it very much. He asked the courtier, "What is the price of this picture?"

The courtier replied "Your Highness, I have spent fifty thousand rupees for this picture."

The king called his Prime Minister and ordered him to pay fifty thousand rupees to the courtier.

When the king was talking to his Prime Minister and the courtier, Tenali Ram was also present in the court. He understood that the courtier was cheating the king. But, he chose to keep quiet.

Tenali Ram, however, had made up his mind to expose the courtier as a wicked and cunning man. After a prolonged search, Tenali Ram caught hold of the painter who had painted the picture of the red peacock. He asked him to paint four pictures of peacocks in different colors.

Tenali Ram, along with the painter, went to the court of King Krishnadevrai. He presented the four pictures to the king.

The king ordered his Prime Minister to pay Tenali Ram the cost of the pictures.

Tenali Ram said, "Your Highness, I cannot accept the payment of the cost of these four pictures. Actually, only this painter has the right to earn this money. You see, Your Highness, this painter is an expert in painting  pictures of different colored animals and things.

King Krishnadevrai understood what Tenali Ram was trying to convey to him. He immediately sent for the courtier who had given him the picture of the red peacock. He asked him to tell the truth about the red peacock.

The courtier was frightened. He confessed that he had cheated the king and sought his forgiveness.

The king ordered the courtier to return the sum of fifty thousand rupees and put him into prison for cheating.

MORAL : NEVER TRY TO FOOL OR CHEAT ANYBODY. DO GOOD DEEDS AND SPEAK THE TRUTH.